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Today I continued my trip alone, and Lisa and Ellie went back to explore Yellowstone.  Very sad to see them go, but just 2 weeks before I’m back in New Haven, God willing.

My route today was a little surprising.  A few miles in, it became a very busy, limited access highway, effectively an interstate. The west has beautiful scenery, but unless you can ride dirt roads, you are often limited to very unpleasant highways (for a cyclist).

In Yellowstone, Lisa and Ellie and I visited two different places that rescue Grizzly Bears.  They were well run and educational.  Along the highway, I saw another bear encounter venue, which seems a little less altruistic.

The highlight of the day was when I ran into Ken Bettencourt, who is cycling 10,000 miles to support the fight against childhood cancer.  Please contribute to his cause:

http://www.alexslemonade.org/

He was talking to Steve Hansen, who had pulled over to make a donation; nice guy.

Steve also suggested an alternate route, that took me off the quasi-interstate. Thanks Steve!

There was a local cheese/ice cream store right there, and I enjoyed a huckleberry cone.

Pulling into Idaho Falls, I saw my third active Drive In theater of the trip.

Idaho Falls has a beautiful downtown park that celebrates the falls for which it is named.

I almost couldn’t get a room, as a local branch of BYU has graduation.  (They are on a trimester system and have commencement 3 times a year.)  Luckily, I called one place that had just had a cancellation.

The next 2 days will be tough.  I have long rides into what are predicted to be headwinds. The second day is 88 miles.